Two retirements mark end of seasonSteven Dori and Maria-Angeles Llamas

Ballet Florida's final program -- a reprise of 2002's productdion of "The Stone Flower" -- will also be the occasion of the retirment of two company dancers: Steven Dori (after 19 years with BF) and Maria-Angeles Llamas (after 7 years). Both have made important contributions to the company and will be very much missed.

I think of Dori in Stevenson's "Gemini" and Forsythe's "Steptext." And I especially admired Llamas in dramatic character roles: an impassioned Lady Capulet in Vicente Nebrada's "Romeo and Juliet" and as the chilling village elder, or priestess (no title is given in the program) who selects the Chosen One and presides over the sacrifice, in Mauricio Wainrot's "Rite of Spring."

Before coming to BF, Dori trained at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and danced with Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Les Ballets Jazz de Montreal, and Basel Ballet. Llamas, born in Spain, danced with Ballet de Santiago, Joffrey, Ballet Hispanico and Ballet Memphis.